LINCOLN SQUARE — Growing your own food has never been trendier or more advisable (see: U.K. horesemeat scandal), but unfortunately it requires something a lot of Chicagoan's lack — land.
The Peterson Garden Project fills that void with a number of pop-up community gardens on the North Side. Membership registration opens today, with space alloted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Returning gardeners were given registration preference in previous weeks. Newcomers will need to be quick on the draw to score a plot.
The good news is that the Peterson Garden Project teased a number of new gardens at a recent information session. Locations haven't been announced, but the project's founder, LaManda Joy, hinted at Roscoe Village and Logan Square.
Existing gardens are:
- Global Garden — Albany Park, Sacramento and Lawrence avenues.
- Vedgewater — Edgewater, Broadway and Rosemont avenues.
- Land on Lincoln — North Park, Lincoln and Sacramento avenues. Technically a new garden, Land on Lincoln replaces Stars Garden, whose members received priority for plots at the new space.
- Montrose Green — North Center, Montose Avenue at the Brown Line. Registration is delayed a week until March 11.
Intersted gardeners can sign up at Peterson Garden Project's website. Membership is $75 for the 2013 growing season, which includes a 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed, organic soil and orientation. Needs-based scholarships are available by emailing info@petersongarden.org.
The gardens are expected to be ready for planting by April 22.
Registration for the TBD new gardens will open March 18. Allowing for build-out, Peterson Garden Project estimates the gardens will be ready for planting by Memorial Day.